Semaphore operating device



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. H. PRISOHEN. SBMAPHORE OPERATINGDEVIOE.

No. 513,496. Patented Jan. 30, 1894.

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SBMAPHORBOPERATING DEVICE.

Patented Jan. 30, 1894;

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J OHANN HEINRICH FRISOI-IEN, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO SIEMENS &

I-IALSKE, OF

SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,496, dated January30, 1894.

Application filed March 30, 1893. Serial No. 468,385. (No model.)Patented in Switzerland January 16, 1891, No. 3,228; in Austria-HungaryJanuary 24, 1891,110. 5,429 and No.22,4=21; in England February 4,1891,11'0. 2,068 in Belgium February 13, 1891,11'0. 93,747,and inGermany June 20,1891, No. 57,225.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHANN HEINRICH FRISGHEN, a subject of the Emperorof Germany, residing at Berlin, Germany, have invented newand usefulImprovementsinSema' phore Operating and Releasing Devices, (patented inGermany, No. 57,225,'dated June 20,

1891; in Belgium, No. 93,747, dated- February 13, 1891; inAustria-Hungary, No. 5,429 and No. 22,421, dated January 24,1891; inSwitzerland, No. 3,228, dated January 16, 1891, and in Great Britain,No. 2,068, dated February 4, 1891,) of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to apparatus for operating semaphore signals ofrailways, and has for its object to provide a simple and efficientapparatus of this character, by means of which the semaphore will beautomatically set from the line clear to the danger position by thepassage of a train and will be reset automatically by operation of theordinary pull Wire lever.

The invention consists in the combination 2 5 with the ordinary pullWire lever, of a carrier lever fulcrumed to it and having a pin and slotconnection with the semaphore, and a trigger lever coupled to thecarrier lever and adapted to a sector detent, and whereby as 0 thedetentis released automatically and either electrically or mechanicallyby the passage of a train, or directly by hand, the semaphore signalwill be set to danger position.

The invention will first be described and 5 then will be particularlydefined in claims 5 danger position, Fig. 3 showing the trigger levertripped from the detent to allow the semaphore to automatically take thedanger position. Figs. 4. to 7, inclusive, are detail views showing howthe ordinary duplex ments. Fig. 8 illustrates a signal arranged toindicate all clear by a downwardlyinclined position of the semaphore,and embodying my improvements; and Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, illustrate amodification in which the semaphore may be set in three positions, viz.,a horizontal danger position and upwardly and downwardly inclinedpositions for giving all clear or other signals.

Referring first more especially to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, it willappear that the semaphore or signal proper l is fulcrumed by a shaft orpin 2 to a post 3, and to this shaft is also held loosely the lever 4which has at: tached pull wires 5, 5 leading to any approved pulley andlever mechanism (not shown) and by which the semaphore may be operatedor set by hand. A rod 6 connected to the semaphore has play in a pivotedbearing 7 held to the post 3, and also has an expanding buffer spring 8and suitable stops 9, 9, easing the fall and limiting the movements ofthe semaphore. To the pull wire lever 4c is fulcrumed by its central pinor stud 10 whatI term a carrier lever 11 having two rigid arms, one armhav in g a curved or elbow form and provided with a corresponding curvedslot 12 receiving a pin 13 fixed to the semaphore 1, and the other armhaving a pivotal connection by a rod 14 with the central portion of atrigger lever 15, which is fulcrumed at 16 to the post 3. The triggerlever is adapted to engage a rocking detent 17, which has a slot orcut-away portion leaving a semicircular or sector catch portion whichthe lever 15 is adapted to engage. The detent has a tail piece 18against which a suitable arm or spring 19 fixed to the trigger lever 15is adapted to strike, for turning the detent to cause automaticengagement of the lever with it. To the rocking detent o 17 is fixed anarmature 20, adapted for attraction by a suitable electro magnet 21 inelectric circuit controlled by any suitable track pedal or other deviceoperative by a the armature spring to draw it from the magpull wirelever may be used with my improve- 50 passing train, to break thecircuit and allow net and simultaneously turn the detent 17 to trip thetrigger lever and allow the semaphore to fall to danger position.

In Figs. 4 to 7 of the drawings, the pull wire lever is made in twopivotally connected parts 4*, 4", operating in the usual manner of suchduplex levers to allow the semaphore 1 to fall to danger position,should either of the pull wires 5, 5 break. Otherwise the constructionis similar to that above described.

The operation is as follows: When the semaphore has been set to thedanger position and the trigger lever 15 has been re-engaged with thedetent 17 and the armature 20 is attracted by the magnet 21, the partshave relative positions shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and the pivotconnections 22 of the carrier lever 11 and rod 14 are then axiallyaligned with the pivot 2 of the semaphore. WVithout changing therelative positions of the levers 4, 11, and while the semaphore pin 13rests in the shorter portion of the carrier lever slot 12, the wires 5,5may be operated to raise the semaphore from the danger position to thesafety or all clear position, shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. If nowthe passage of a train opens the electric circuit to the magnet 21, orif this circuit be otherwise opened, the spring of the armature 20 drawsit backward and thereby rocks the detent sufficiently to allow thetrigger lever 15, which had pre- Viously retained the semaphore 1 in theall clear position, to escape past the detent, thereby permitting thesemaphore to drop by gravity as its pins 13, by slipping in the leverslot 12,carries the lever 11 downward, while the mechanism assumesrelative positions shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, with the pin 13resting at the outer end of the carrier lever slot.

After passage of the train which had set the semaphore to danger asabove described, the mechanism maybe readjusted to the relativepositions shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings by simply pulling the wires 5to carry the lever 4: back to the position therein shown. This operationwill push the rod 14 downward and adjust the carrier lever 11 mainlyparallel with the lever 4E, and about as the shorter straight portion ofthe slot 12 of lever 11 engages the semaphore pin 13,the down wardlymoving trigger lever 15 will pass by the sector detent which then hasthe position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the lever spring 19 will strikethe detent tail 18 and turn the detent in front of the lever 15, whichthen engages the detent as shown in Figs. 1 and2 of the drawings, andthe armature 20 will again be attracted by an electric current in themagnet 21. When the pull wires 5 are again drawn upon, while both levers4, 11 are locked together and the semaphore pin 13 remains in theshorter straight part of the slot 12 of lever 11 and the lever pivot 22remains axially aligned with the fulcrum 2 of the semaphore, thesemaphore will be carried upward to the all clear position shown in Fig.2, and all is ready for tripping of the trigger lever 15 from the detent17, by the passage of the next train, or by any mechanical means or byhand, to allow the semaphore to again fall to the danger position shownin Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The operation of the modified semaphore shown in Fig. 8 of the drawingsis substantially similar to that above described, with the exceptionthat the semaphore 1 has a tail piece beyond its fulcrum to which isconnected a rod 23 suspending a weight 24, which, when the triggerlever'15 is tripped from the detent 17, automatically carries thesemaphore 1 from its normal lower angular all clear position shown, to ahorizontal danger position.

Inthe modification shown in Figs. 9 to 13 of the drawings, the carrierlever 11, instead of being provided with one partly straight and partlyinclined slot 12, as in the lever 11 above described, has two slots 12,12 open at the inner end and adapted for operation with two pins 13, 13fixed to the semaphore. The semaphore and the duplex pull wire lever areindicated by dotted lines in these views. A counter-balancingweightnormally tending to return the semaphore to a horizontal dangerposition is also shown in dotted lines in said views. the semaphore isindicated when the normal danger signal is shown, while the triggerlever 15 is in engagement with the detent 17 and the pull wire lever isin a horizontal posit-ion. wire lever is drawn down by the wire 5, thecarrier lever 11 raises the semaphore to the upwardly inclined all clearposition shown in Fig. 10, in the manner described with reference toFig. 2. Then when the trigger lever is released by the passage of atrain, the semaphore falls to the danger position shown in Fig. 11, thepin 13 simultaneously riding down the slot 12*, and thereby rocking thelever 11 and raising the rod 14. If the pull rod lever is then drawn toa horizontal position, the parts will resume the positions shown in Fig.9. Fig. 12 shows the inner end of the pull wire lever drawn down toindicate that the line is clear, the carrier lever being simultaneouslydrawn down, as shown. Now if the trigger lever 15 is re- In Fig. 9 theposition of 1 When the outer end of the pull leased by the detent 17upon the passage of a train, or in any other manner, the semaphore armwill return to its normal horizontal danger position, the inner pin 13riding up the upper slot 12 and drawing the carrier lever to theposition shown in Fig. 13. When the pull wire lever is again drawn to ahorizontal position, and the trigger leveris re-engaged by the detent,the parts will be returned to the normal danger position of Fig. 9. Itwill thus be seen that the all clear signal may be shown by either anupward or a downward inclination of the semaphore and that from eitherof these positions said semaphore will be returned to a normalhorizontal danger position by gravity.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is g 1. In semaphoresignal apparatus, the combination with the semaphore, of a pull wirelever, a carrier lever pivoted to the pull wire lever and having a slotengaginga pin on the semaphore, a trigger lever connected to the carrierlever and a detent adapted to engage and release the trigger lever,substantially as described.

2. In semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with the semaphore, ofa pull wire lever, a carrier lever .pivoted to the pull wire lever andhaving a slot engaging a pin on the semaphore, a, trigger leverconnected to the pull wire lever, a rocking detent for the trigger levercarrying an armature, and an electro magnet attracting the armature,substantially as described.

3. In semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with the semaphore, ofa pull wire lever, a carrier lever pivoted to the pull wire lever andhaving a slot engaging a pin on the semaphore, a trigger lever connectedto the pull wire lever and having a projecting arm, and a rocking detentfor the trigger lever having atail piece to which said arm is adaptedfor automatically setting the detent to retain the trigger lever,substantially as described.

4. In semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with the semaphore, ofa pull wire lever,a carrier lever pivoted to the pull wire lever andhaving aslot engaginga pin on the semaphore, a trigger lever connectedto the pull wire lever and carryinga projecting arm, a rocking detentfor the trigger lever having a tail piece to which said arm is adaptedfor automatically setting the detent to retain the trigger lever, saiddetent also carrying an armature; and an electro magnetattracting thearmature, substantially as described.

5. In semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with a support 3, of asemaphore 1 fulcrumed thereto and having a pin 13, a lever 4 fulcrumedto the support 3, pull wires 5 on the lever 4, a carrier lever 11pivoted to the lever 4 and having a slot 12 receiving the pin 13, atrigger lever 15 pivoted to the support 3, a rod 14 connecting thelevers 11, 15, and a rocking detent 17 to which the trigger lever 15 isadapted, substantially as described.

6. In semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with a support 3, of asemaphore 1 fulcrumed thereto and having a pin 13, a lever 4 fulcrumedto the support 3, pull wires 5 on the lever 4, a carrier lever, 11pivoted to the lever 4 and having a slot 12 receiving the pin 13, atrigger lever 15 pivoted to the support 3, a rod 14 connecting thelevers 11, 15, and a rocking detent 17 carrying an arma ture 20; and anelectro magnet 21 attracting the armature, substantially as described.

7. In semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with a support 3, of asemaphore 1 fulcrumed thereto and having a pin 13, a lever 4 fulcrumedto the support 3, pull wires 5 on the lever 4, a carrier lever 11pivoted to the lever 4 and having a slot 12 receiving the pin 13, atrigger lever 15 pivoted to the support 3 and having an elastic arm orspring 19, a rod 14 connecting the levers 11, 15, and arocking detent 17havinga tail piece 18, substantially as described.

8. In semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with a support 3, of asemaphore 1 fulcrumed thereto and having a pin 13, a lever 4 fulcrumedto the support 3, pull wires 5 on the lever 4, a carrier lever 11pivoted to the lever 4 and having aslot 12 receiving the pin 13, atrigger lever 15 pivoted to the support 3 and having an elastic arm orspring 19,

arod 14 connectingthe levers 11, 15, a rocking detent 17 having atailpiece 18 and an armature 20, and an electro magnet 21 attracting thearmature, substantially as described.

9. In semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with the semaphore, ofa pull wire lever, a carrier lever pivoted to the pull wire lever andhaving a slot engaging a pin on the semaphore, a trigger lever connectedto the carrier lever, a detent adapted to engage and release the triggerlever, and buffer devices cushioning the fall of the semaphore to dangerposition, substantially as described.

10. In semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with a support 3, ofa semaphore l fulcrumed thereto and having a pin 13, a lever 4 fulcrumedto the support 3, pull wires 5 on the lever 4, a carrier lever 11pivoted to the lever 4 and having a slot 12 receiving the pin 13, atrigger lever 15 pivoted to the support 3, a'rod 14 connecting thelevers 11, 15, a rocking detent 17 to which the trigger lever 15 isadapted, and buffer devices 6, 7, 8, 9 between the semaphore and itssupport, substantially as described.

11. In a semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with the semaphore,of a pull wire lever, a carrier lever pivoted to the pull wire lever andhaving oppositely disposed, similar slots upon each side of the pivotalpoint adapted to engage with co-opera'ting pins on the semaphore, atrigger lever connected to the carrier lever, and a detent IOC adaptedto engage and release the trigger le- I ver, substantially as described.

12. In a semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with the semaphore,of a pull wire lever, a carrier lever pivoted to the pull wire lever andhaving oppositely disposed, similar slots upon each side of the pivotalpoint adapted to engage with co-operating pins on the semaphore, atrigger lever connected to the pull wire lever, a rocking detent for thetrigger lever carrying an armature, and an electro-magnet attracting thearmature, substantially as described.

13. In semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with the semaphore,of a pull wire lover, a carrier lever pivoted to the pull wire lever andhaving oppositely disposed, similar slots upon each side of the pivotalpoint adapted to engage withco-operating pins on the semaphore, atrigger lever connected to the pull wire lever and having a projectingarm, and a rocking detent for the trigger lever having a tail piece towhich said arm is adapted for automatically setting the detent to retainthe trigger lever, substantially as described.

14. In semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with the semaphore,of a pull wire lever, a carrier lever pivoted to the pull wire lever andhaving oppositely disposed, similar slots upon each side of the pivotalpoint adapted to engage with co-operating pins on arm, a rocking detentfor the trigger lever having a tail piece to which said arm is adaptedfor automatically setting the detent to retain the trigger lever, saiddetent also carrying an armature; and an electro-magnet attracting thearmature, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHANN HEINRICH FRISOI-IEN. Witnesses:

MAX WAGNER, GEO. H. BENJAMIN.

